Seat-back control



Feb. 28, 1933. I 5. PAUL 1,899,880

SEAT BACK CONTROL Filed Nov. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 28, 193 3.5. PAUL SEAT BACK CONTROL Filed Nov. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet PatentedFeb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES P'YAT-ENTOFF'I'CE,

; SYDNEY PAUL, or LIMA, OHIO, Assrenontro SUPERIOR BODY COMPANY, orLIMA, OHIO,

' A CORPORATION or OHIO snar-nncx coiv'rnor.

Application filed November 22, 1930. Serial No. 497,388.

This invention relates to control means for tilting seat-backs'and isintended more particularly for use in connection withthe seats ofrailway coaches, buses and the like.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and eflicientcontrol of the characterdescribed, which is automatically operable bymovement alone of the associated seat back to effect variouspredetermined positions of adjustment and to permit either a forward orbackward adjustmentof the back.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, andwhile in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerousforms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a seatof the double type embodying the invention with one back-frame inupright and the other in rearwardly tilted position. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the control means illustrating its position when the backis in up right position. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views illustratingsuccessive positions assumed by the control meanswhen changing the backfrom upright to reclining positions, and 5 is a similar viewillustrating the position of the control means when the back is incomplete reclining position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a seat-frame, in the presentinstance of the double type adapted for use in back-frames hinged to theseat-frame for respective tilting movements relative thereto to enableeither to be placed in the upright position shown by the rightback-frame in Fig. 1, or in the reclining position shown by the leftback-frame in said figure.

Each back-frame 2 has a bar or frame part 3, preferably of metal and ofangle-iron form in cross-section, secured to each side edge thereof nearits lower or hinged end with one flange lying parallel with and securedto the rear side of the back-frame and with its other flange projectingforwardly and, in the present instance, having a portion exposed to thefront through a notch 4 provided in the respective side edge of theback-frame. The bars 3 preferably serve as the hinge members for theback-frames and are therefore pro-' vlded at their lower ends with eyeswhich receive pivot pins 5 secured of the seat frame. Y c a A catch arm6, forming. a part of the control means, is pivoted tothe forwardlyprojecting flange of each bar 3 within the backf'rame notch 4 forvertical rocking move to the rear portion ments relative to the bar'andin the present instance having its inner end forked and straddllng theforwardly projecting flange of said bar and pivoted thereto at7.- Theflange to whichthe member 6 is pivoted is 7 cut back or steppedabove'the pivot point'of the member to permit the catch member to be 7swung to upright position with respect tothe bar, as best shown in Figs.3 and 4. Each catch member 6 is normally ured to have downward swinging:movement y acoiled contractile spring 8, the upper end of which isattached to the catch member and the lower 7 end to the bar 3' at apoint below the pivotal point 7 of the catch member. o A catch stud 9 iscarried by and projects from the outer side 'of the free end portion ofeach catch member 6, relative to the associated frame-back '2 andoperates within a slot 10 provided in a plate 11, which is stationarilymounted With respect to the seatframe 1 at the outer side of therespective catch arm 6. a The plates 11 are so disposed that the slots10 extendforwardly and rearwardly withrespect tothe seat and each slotis provided at its lower rear corner with a notch 12 and at its lowerforward corner with a notch 13. i v 1 When a seat-back is in rearwardlyreclining position, as shown at the left of Fig. 1 and 7 also in Fig. 5,the catch studs 9 associated therewith are engaged within the rearnotches 12 of the respective' plates 11, thereby cooperating with thecatch members 6 to support the seat-back in such position relative .tothe seat frame. When the seat-back.

To move the seat-back from the reclining position shown in Fig. 5 to theupright position shown in Fig. 2, it is merely necessary to move theseat-back forward, thereby causing each catch stud 9 to side upwardlyout of its notch 12 and then forwardly along the bottom wall of the slot10 to 21141111130 the for ward notch 18, into which it is yieldinglydrawn and held by the action of the spring 8. In shifting theseat-backfrom' its upright to its reclining position, it is not possibleto merely swing it back, asthis is prevented by reason of the directpulling engagement of the associated catch studs 9. with the rear wallsof the catch notches 13. It is therefore necessary'to swing the seatback forwardly fromits upright position shown in Fig. 2 to the positionshown in Fig. 3, which movement is sufficient to cause the catch studs 9to travel up the forward end walls of the respective'slots 10 andtoswing the catch members 6 back with respect to the frame bars 3sufficiently to cause the center of pull of the springs 8 on the catchmembers to be disposed at the rear of the axes ofthe pivots 7 withrespect to the line of pull of the springs 8. When the spring pull hasmoved rearwardly' past center with respect to the axes of the catchmembers 6, the catch members are prevented from swinging further to therear with respect to the frame bars 3 by reasonof the engagement of thecatch members with the flanges of such bars which they straddle. Thecatch members having thus been released from the forward catch notches'13, the seat-back can be swung rearwardly to its reclining position,and when during such movement it has reached approximately the positionindicated in Fig. 4, the catch studs 9 will engage the rear end walls ofthe respective slots 10, and, duringthe continued rearward movement ofthe seat-frame, will cause the associated catch members 6 to swingforward to place the line of pull of the springs 8 in advance of thepivots 7, the springs then acting to draw thecatch studs down into therear catch notches 12. It is apparent from the above that to shift aseatback from reclining to upright position, it is merely necessary toswing the back forward from one position to the other, whereas to shiftit from upright to reclining position, it

is necessary to first swing it forward to the stop position shown inFig. 3 and then to swing it completely back to the reclining position. vr I V i The plates 11 are mounted on convenient portions of theseat-frame which are desigiiated 14, In the present instance, the member14, to which the plates 11 at the inner or adjacent sides of theseat-backs are mounted, is in the form of an upright rising from therear portion ofthe seat-frame betweenthe two seat-backs, and the members14 at the gaging catch members mounted on. the seatframe and backrespectively, one of said catch members being fixed and the otherpivoted to the respective members on which they are mounted, meansengagingwith the pivoted member to move it through a predetermined arebetween latching and unlatchingpositions as the back is moved from oneextreme position to the other, and spring means attached to the outerendof the pivoted member and to the part to which it is pivoted and solocated that the pivoted member passes dead center position with respectto the attached points of the spring means in its move ment betweenlatching and unlatching positions. V v

2. In combination, a seat-frame, a slotted fixed catch member carried bysaid frame,'a relatively adjustable back connected to said frame, acatch member pivoted to said back and having a portion engaging in theslot of the first mentioned catch member to latch the back, said slottedcatch member including means engaging with the pivoted catch member tomove it through a limited predeter mined are between latching andunlatching positions as the back is moved from one extreme positiontothe other, and spring means attached to the outer end of said pivotedcatch member and to the back and so located that the pivoted memberpassess through dead center position with reference. to the spring meansin moving from one extreme position to the other. Y r

3. In combination, a seat frame, a back pivoted thereto for adjustmentto upright or re clining position, co-engaging catch members i positionwith the seat back in either position, v

and means engaged with the pivoted catch member to shift it past deadcenter with reference to said spring when the seat back is movedforwardly from its upright position, thus releasing the back formovement to its reclining position.

4. In combination, a seat frame, a back pivoted thereto for adjustmentto upright or reclining position, co-engaging catch members on the seatframe and back respectively to latch the back in either position, one ofsaid catch members being relatively fixed and the other pivoted, aspring acting on the pivoted catch member and urging it toward latchingposition with the seat back in either position,- means engaging with thepivoted catch member to shift it past dead center with reference to saidspring when the seat back is moved forwardly from its upright position,thus releasing the back for movement to its reclining position, andmeans engaging with the pivoted catch member to return it through deadcenter to latching position as the seat back approaches its recliningposition.

' 5. In combination, a seat frame having a slot with a notch at eachend, a seat back pivoted to the frame, a catch member pivoted to theback and selectively engaged with said notches to latch the back inupright or reclining position, said slot having an inclined front edgeengaged by the pivoted catch member, when the seat back is swungforwardly, to move the pivoted catch member about its pivot to a stableunlatching position, said slot having an inclined rear edge engaged bythe pivoted catch member, as the back is moved rearwardly to recliningposition, to return the pivoted catch member to latching position.

6. In combination, a seat frame, a seat back pivoted thereto foradjustment forwardly and rearwardly, catch members mounted on the frameand back respectively, one of said catch members being relatively fixedand the other pivoted, one of said catch members having a slot thereinwith a notch at each end of the slot, said notches being selectivelyengaged by the other catch member to latch the back in either upright orreclining position, said slot having an inclined edge at its for- Wardend engaged by said other catch member, as the seat back is movedforwardly from upright position, to swing the end of the pivoted catchmember out of latching position to a stable unlatching position, saidslot having an inclined rear edge engaged by said other catch member, asthe seat back is moved rearwardly to reclining position, to return thepivoted catch member to latching position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thissgiecification.

YDNEY PAUL.

